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Congressional DEBATE

Tips for Success

1. Remember these important dates

•  Legislation due Sept. 15

• District legislation online Sept. 24

•  Intent to participate due Oct. 1

• District window Nov. 1-15

•  State legislation online Nov. 22

•  State Meet Jan. 12-14

2. Understand the structure of the district met

•  TEA service center region

• Window – Nov. 1 – 15

• All sizes meet together

• Compete only against your conference

• Region 4 will be adjusted ******

TEA Regions

2. Understand the structure of the district meet

•  3 entries and 2 alternates

•  Entry deadline 10 days prior to meet

•  Less than 10 per conference –seat both alternates

•  11-15 per conference – seat one alternate per school

•  District Clerk appointed by

State Office

•  Clerk chooses 4 more for

District Committee

3. Know the basic rules

•  Over 24 total entries – two or more chambers

•  2 sessions = 6 hours

•  Speeches are 3 minutes long – unused time is gone

•  Aff/neg block

•  1st cycle – 2 minutes questioning

•  Then 1 minute questioning

•  Precedence / Recency / Questioning

•  Student PO if possible

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3. Know the basic rules - scoring

•  2 judges and 1 parliamentarian

•  Judges score / Parli scores PO

• Rated 1 -6 mainly for NFL points

• Only 1st 5 speeches per student scored

•  Judges rank top 8

•  Parli scores all speakers and breaks ties

3. Know the basic rules - advancing

• Multiple chambers – finals based on RANKS

• Advance to final proportional to division entries

•  End of both sessions -- Top 3 RANKS / division advance to state

4. Submit legislation

•  Bill, resolution, amendment

•  Submit to District Clerk by Sept. 15

•  At least 1 bill and one resolution per school

•  Each district has its own docket – online on Sept. 24

•  At least 3 pieces of legislation will be Texas based

•  10 for prelims and 10 for finals

•  Invitations may use PRELIMS only

5. Research the docket.

• Don’t pre-script like a debate case

•  List points, outline – like an extemp speech

• Collect evidence

•  Prefer official rather than news sources

•  File on laptop or in a notebook – no tubs

•  Prepare more than 3 min. – rehash is bad

5. Research the docket – speech preparation

•  As many as you can

•  Aff and neg as many as you can

•  First 5 in order

•  Must debate each item for a minimum of 30 min.

•  Only speak if you volunteer

•  No guarantee you’ll get to give the speech you want

•  Keep arguments real world

6. Understand these motions

• Main motion = the legislation

•  I move / second

• Voice vote / Standing Vote

•  Previous question – ends debate

•  2/3 vote

• Voting on main motion simple majority

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7. Be familiar with other motions/ jargon

•  Table of motions handout

•  Main motion

•  Previous question – 2/3 vote

•  Table / untable

•  Divide the chamber – decision of chair

•  Permission to leave / reenter chamber- chair

•  Recess/Adjourn

8. Prepare your speeches

•  Opening phrases – At the leisure of the judges, the PO and the parliamentarian. Please nod when ready.

•  SHORT attention device

•  2 -3 main points with source citations like extemp

•  No cards – no scripts

•  Have clash

•  End with appeal for the vote

•  Avoid debate jargon (CX/ contention / flow / opponent)

•  No internet access in round

•  All speeches 3 min. – unused time is GONE

9. Prepare for Questioning

•  First 2 speakers face 2 min. of questioning

•  Subsequent speakers face 1 min.

•  Rise for questions often

•  Can be informational or argumentative

•  Never aggressive or rude

•  Don’t preface or ask follow up or two part questions

•  If someone asks your question, sit down

10. Make allies in the chamber

•  Help others get in their speeches by keeping debate open

•  Don’t give throw away speeches to block other debaters.

•  Work together to reorder the docket

•  Items 1-5 in order

•  No new legislation from floor

•  Judges penalize rudeness.

•  Only competing with your division

11. Be active in the chamber

•  Stay in the room as much as possible.

• Ask questions.

• Make motions but not time wasters.

• Visual aids must be left for all to use

•  Bad PO ruins it for everyone – don’t try until you’re ready

12. Learn to P.O.

•  All get an audition period of less than 1 hour

•  Auditions aren’t scored

•  Elected PO is scored every hour

•  Call on speakers and questioners fairly

•  Run a fast, efficient chamber

•  Know Parliamentary Procedure

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13. Use amendments judiciously.

•  Submitted to parliamentarian

•  Parli will give to PO if the amendment is relevant

•  Can’t be used to change the intent of the legislation

•  PO calls on author of amendment to present it – no guarantee of a speech

•  Body may move the question on an amendment with a 1/3

•  Keep the legislation debatable.

•  Don’t use amendments to block out another debater.

14. Get ready for State Meet!

•  Conferences separated

•  24 qualifiers – 1 chamber

•  24 – 48 – 2 chambers

•  49-60 –3 chambers

•  Top third advances to finals in capitol

•  New judges and precedence each session

•  Parli remains the same